VIKI BrainBOX, a cocktail of technologies: when KNX and DALI meet at the intelligence bar

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

What is the connection between a well-balanced summer cocktail and a smart home system? Simple: both are carefully selected mixes of ingredients that must work perfectly together. If a Piña Colada cools your senses, a well-built VIKI BrainBOX warms your soul… and your home.
And because we like to play and test the limits of technology, one day like any other at the office we found ourselves transforming the laboratory into a high-tech bar: we mixed two top technologies – KNX and DALI, put two existing boards (BASIC + ADVANCED) in a shaker and shook well to obtain… the MAXIMUS of the future.

What did we want to test?
A smart home enthusiast challenged us to integrate more devices than would fit in a single panel. And not only that – he wanted fine-grained control, communication between devices from different manufacturers, and, most importantly, smooth, hassle-free integration. And so the test began.

Test scenario in VIKI BrainBOX LABS:
🔹 We connected a BASIC and an ADVANCED panel in a common setup
🔹 We installed the ABB i-bus DG/S 1.64.1.1 gateway, which does the magic between KNX and DALI – that is, it allows information exchange between the two worlds.
🔹 We used elegant and functional switches such as the KNX Push Button Pro (MTN6185-6034) and the model with Dynamic Labeling 8gang (MTN6194-6010).
🔹 We tested DALI control equipment, including On/Off and dimming actuators from Foxtron.

Everything, to make sure that the telegrams are transferred flawlessly: KNX sends to DALI, DALI sends to VIKI, and VIKI – the brain of the house – understands and acts.

And yes, it worked perfectly!
💡 Ambient lighting reacts as if by book.
📱 Commands can be given from the screen on the wall, from the phone or… can be completely automated.
🧠 VIKI learns how you want the light to be in the evening in the living room or in the morning in the bathroom.
🎯 All these components will soon be part of a new VIKI BrainBOX MAXIMUS panel – custom-made for our enthusiastic client, who will have a 100% personalized smart home.
And we documented everything in a VIDEO which we are sure you are curious to see.

What did we like the most?
That we were in our element. That we felt like explorers in a laboratory of ideas again. That we laughed, changed cables, checked connections and concluded: it’s wonderful when technology becomes friendly and actually works together.
That’s what we do at VIKI. We combine technologies, test, learn and deliver smart systems that not only respond to your commands, but also anticipate them. Because, beyond technology, VIKI knows!

📘 Do you also want a personalized painting for your home? Start here: Download PDF Catalog VIKI BrainBOX.

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Summary

VIKI and KNX go caroling together

viki knx

The VIKI team learned and tested in the past days the structure of the telegrams that can be sent in the KNX protocol and technology.

The system proposed by KNX has demonstrated flexibility and compatibility with our plans to extend the VIKI solution, and its automation facilities will be successfully completed by the intelligence layer developed by us, regarding the control of the light, climate or the control of the security system.
Continue reading “VIKI and KNX go caroling together” »

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Summary

VIKI befriends KNX

viki knx

VIKI the smart home takes a step towards interfacing with the KNX solution. In December we have researched KNX technology and tested the possibility of integrating the VIKI intelligence layer with the connection offered by the KNX solution.

KNX is a system that retains its value

KNX is the only system that complies with the requirements of the European (EN50090) and International (ISO / IEC 14543) standards for Home Automation. This compliance certifies the value of KNX technology and it is the quality proof for homeowners.

KNX is an open system

KNX provides the freedom to choose the products that are to be integrated in your home: over 200 manufacturers offer you a variety of KNX products, certified and compatible, according to the latest standards in the technical field, having the complete freedom to choose. So, with KNX you build today for tomorrow.

KNX technology is a worldwide standard for all home automation applications, from lighting and window blinds control, to various security systems, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, alarm monitoring, sanitation control, energy management, measuring, and also devices for home, audio and many more.

KNX technology can be used not only in new buildings, but also in existing ones and has been on the market for over 23 years, including predecessors, EIB, EHS and BatiBUS.
The systems designed according to the KNX standard can be applied from the level of an apartment to huge installations such as the new terminals of airports in the world, like Beijing, built for the 2008 Olympics, or terminal 5 at London’s Heathrow airport.

This leads to a great flexibility and the possibility to model many intelligent functions even for residential, multi or single-family buildings.
The VIKI team will return in the next period with details about the results of the tests performed in this research.

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Summary